If you ask Kate Ferguson about her work in the community, she’s likely to redirect the conversation back to the causes she champions and the people they serve.

Her giving has never been about recognition. Instead, it is about rolling up her sleeves, lending her voice, and using her resources to meet the Santa Maria Valley’s most urgent needs.

“I never thought of any of it as philanthropy,” Ferguson said. “To me, it’s just being a good neighbor and supporting the place you call home.”

It’s for those extraordinary efforts to be a “good neighbor" that an independent committee of community members chose her as one of the honorees for the 17th annual Celebrate Philanthropy event."

Ferguson’s impact can be felt in nearly every corner of Santa Maria and beyond. From child welfare to veterans’

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